The University of Massachusetts Amherst is a land grant Research I university with an enrollment of approximately 24,000 students. It was founded in 1863 under the provisions of the Morrill Land Grant Act passed by the United States Congress one year earlier.

Situated in one of the most picturesque sections of the state, the University at Amherst joins with its academic neighbors - Amherst, Smith, Mount Holyoke, and Hampshire colleges - in maintaining the rich tradition of education and cultural activity associated with the Connecticut Valley. Together these five institutions have formed the Five Colleges, Inc., an organization which promotes cooperation between the schools. This cooperation has resulted in Five College Radio (WFCR), free bus service between the schools, a wider variety of courses open to every student enrolled at one of these institutions, and a large selection of cultural events.

The Fine Arts Center at the University attracts some of the finest of the performing arts, ranging from classical ballet to rock concerts. Lectures, art exhibits, recitals, concerts, theater, and political forums are some of the activities conducted on a regular basis.

The Community

The town of Amherst, founded in 1759, is located in the portion of the Connecticut River Valley known as the Pioneer Valley. Largely a rural area, it is dotted with farms and orchards. The principal area industry is education, with the University of Massachusetts and Amherst and Hampshire colleges in the town of Amherst, and Mount Holyoke and Smith colleges in nearby towns.The Pioneer Valley is rich in outdoor recreational opportunities: downhill and cross-country skiing, mountain climbing, skating and fishing at numerous lakes and ponds, facilities for golf and tennis, plus a host of gymnasiums, pools, and tracks. In addition to all of the university and college libraries, the town offers the historic Jones Library. There are many other sites of historic interest in this town that features old New England houses on shady tree-lined streets. Amherst was the home of Emily Dickinson, Noah Webster, Helen Hunt Jackson, Eugene Field, Henry Ward Beecher, Robert Frost, and other illustrious people.The cost of living in Amherst is comparable to that of other towns of its size in the eastern part of the United States. Estimates of minimum funds needed to support a student in residence are available through the Foreign Student Office, Whitmore Administration Building.Amherst is less than 100 miles from Boston, 200 miles from New York City, and 30 miles from Vermont. Air service for Amherst is through Bradley International Airport, located between Springfield and Hartford; flights are available to major U.S. cities. There is a bus service from Bradley directly to the University Campus Center. Amtrak serves the neighboring town of Northampton.

Health Services

All students who have health insurance are eligible to receive care through the University Health Services. Off-campus hospitalization and surgical services can be arranged by the Health Services' staff, but the cost of this care is the responsibility of the individual student. A supplemental insurance program is available to students on an optional basis to provide coverage for most medical and surgical services not available at the Health Center. This plan also provides coverage for dependents of students. The purpose of the Health Services is to help each student realize optimum physical, emotional, and social well being in order to derive the most benefit from the University experience.Services available at the Health Center include unlimited outpatient consultation with staff physicians and nurse practitioners backed by supporting diagnostic x-ray, laboratory, pharmacy, and physical therapy facilities. In addition, the Health Center provides inpatient service for those in need of hospitalization. For more information contact: University Health Services

Student Groups

Amherst is the main graduate campus of the University of Massachusetts system and has more than 6,000 graduate students in 50 doctoral programs. There are currently 35 graduate students carrying out research in Neuroscience and Behavior. All receive financial support. Most students are interested in careers in research, teaching, or industry, and most go on to postdoctoral appointments at leading institutions in the United States and abroad.